Gene Discovery & Genetic Diseases

Genes are like a computer code that spells out the program of life for each individual. Changes in the code, either inherited or environmentally induced, are responsible for an individual’s susceptibility to disease.

QIMR’s research in gene discovery and the molecular basis for genetic disease is part of an international effort to combat cancer and other major diseases. The research represents a source of new products that can be taken up by medical biotechnology industries in creating new products for international markets.

Areas of gene investigation include:

Iron overload diseases Alcoholism Allergy Asthma Ataxia-telangiectasia Biliary Atresia Cancer Genetics Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease DNA methylation

Endocrine neoplasia Endometriosis Epigenetics Haemochromatosis Gene knockouts Genetic epidemiology Genomic imprinting Giardia genome Growth factors

Hepatic Fibrosis Iron deficiency Iron metabolism Leukaemia Lymphoma Receptor kinases Signal transduction Twin studies X-chromosome inactivation